Find out about a week dedicated to promoting positive body image and preventing eating disoders.
Body dissatisfaction is an increasingly serious issue among our young people. Pressures from the media, the fashion industry, peers, and family all contribute to the stress kids feel surrounding having the “right” body type. As educators, we often fight an uphill battle. We try to encourage our kids to feel good about themselves, despite the conflicting messages they hear all around them.
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is February 24 – March 1, 2008. The goal of this event, sponsored by the National Eating disorders Association, is “to teach people of all ages about the importance of promoting positive body image as well as raise awareness about the dangers of eating disorders and the need for early intervention and treatment by distributing educational materials and organizing events in their communities.” (from the NEDAW website).
By visiting the event website, you can access the resources and information you need to plan your own NEDAW activities and events. Coordinator Kits are available for purchase for those interested in jumping right in. These kits include posters, planning guides, presentations, press releases and other promotional ideas. It also includes tons of great handouts and other resources. Purchasing your kit now will give you a whole year to plan exciting, inspiring events for your kids for next year’s NEDAW.
In the meantime, checkout “Things to Do During National Eating Disorders Awareness Week”, a handy list of suggestions we can implement anytime with our students. These are quick ideas or reminders about promoting awareness and acceptance of individual body types. At some point next week, try to incorporate a few of these strategies into your work with kids.
You may also be interested in checking out the previous Youth Development articles Extreme Dieting and Plastic Surgery or Girls and Positive Body Image.
